Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals and/or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim. For instance, if a car crash victim claims damages against the driver for loss or injury sustained in an accident, this will be a civil law case. Civil law courts provide a forum for deciding disputes involving torts (such as accidents, negligence, and libel), contract disputes, the probate of wills, trusts, property disputes, administrative law, commercial law, and any other private matters that involve private parties or organizations including government departments. The objectives of civil law are different from other types of law. In civil law there is the attempt to right a wrong, honor an agreement, or settle a dispute. If there is a victim, they get compensation, and the person who is the cause of the wrong pays, this being a civilized form of, or legal alternative to, revenge.
Berry Creek (formerly, Berry Valley) is an unincorporated community about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Oroville, California in hilly terrain at 1,995 feet (608 m) above mean sea level. The community is located along Oroville-Quincy Highway on the shore of Madrone Lake. The US Geological Survey shows coordinates of 39°38′43″N 121°24′12″W / 39.64528°N 121.40333°W / 39.64528; -121.40333 for the town. The community is home to Berry Creek Elementary School (K-8). Berry Creek is inside Area code 530 and wired phone numbers follow the format (530) 589-xxxx. The community's ZIP code is 95916, and is shared with the community of Brush Creek, (which is about four miles or six kilometers east on Oroville-Quincy Highway). There is a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection fire station at an area called Harts Mill just south of the community. This is a historic name for a community once located at 39°37′25″N 121°26′08″W / 39.62361°N 121.43556°W / 39.62361; -121.43556. Harts Mill was probably a mining community named for a stamp mill. The USGS lists a variant name of Virginia Mill for the area.